XM Account Types — Overview
XM offers four distinct trading account types, each designed with a specific trader profile in mind. The right choice depends on your experience level, trading style, available capital, and whether you prefer lower spreads or zero commissions. Here's a quick summary before we dive into the details.
Full Side-by-Side Comparison
The table below covers every key variable across all XM account types so you can make a fully informed decision.
| Feature | Micro | Standard | Ultra Low | Shares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $5 | $50 | $10,000 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CHF, ZAR, HUF, PLN, SGD (all accounts) | |||
| Spread EUR/USD | From 1.0 pip | From 1.0 pip | From 0.6 pips | N/A |
| Commission | None | None | None | $0.04/share |
| Lot Size | Micro (0.01) | Standard (1.00) | Micro & Standard | 1 share min. |
| Min. Lot | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 1 share |
| Max. Lot | 100 lots | 50 lots | 50 lots | Varies |
| Max. Leverage (Forex) | 1:1000 | 1:1000 | 1:1000 | N/A |
| Max. Leverage (Indices) | 1:500 | 1:500 | 1:500 | N/A |
| Max. Leverage (Commodities) | 1:666 | 1:666 | 1:666 | N/A |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swap-Free (Islamic) | Available | Available | Available | Not applicable |
| MT4 Platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| MT5 Platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Instruments | 1,000+ | 1,000+ | 1,000+ | Stocks only |
| Inactivity Fee | $5/month after 90 days of no login (all accounts) | |||
Micro Account — Deep Dive
The XM Micro account is designed specifically for traders who are new to live trading and want to experience real market conditions without committing significant capital. The defining feature is its use of micro lots — each lot represents just 1,000 units of the base currency, compared to 100,000 units in a standard lot.
This means a 1 pip movement on EUR/USD with a 0.01 micro lot position is worth approximately $0.10 — far less than the $10 pip value on a standard lot. This reduced monetary exposure per pip allows beginners to trade with better emotional control, practice risk management, and learn from their mistakes without large financial consequences.
Micro Account — Who Is It Best For?
Complete Beginners
If this is your first live account, the Micro account lets you trade with real money and real emotions without exposing yourself to large losses during the learning curve.
Strategy Testers
Trading a new strategy live on small size gives you authentic execution data — including slippage, spread costs, and emotional pressure — that a demo account cannot replicate.
Low-Capital Traders
With just $5–$50 in the account, traders in emerging markets or with limited starting funds can participate in global forex markets with proper risk management.
- ✓$5 minimum deposit — lowest barrier to entry of any account type
- ✓Micro lot trading = $0.10 per pip on 0.01 lots — minimal financial exposure
- ✓No commission — all costs built into the spread
- ✓Negative balance protection included
- ✗Wider spreads than Ultra Low (avg 1.6 pips on EUR/USD vs 0.8 pips)
- ✗Not cost-efficient for high-volume or frequent trading
Standard Account — Deep Dive
The XM Standard account offers the same $5 minimum deposit as the Micro account but operates with standard lots — each lot is 100,000 units of the base currency. A 1 pip movement on a 0.01 standard lot position on EUR/USD is worth $1.00 (compared to $0.10 on a micro lot). This gives traders more flexibility to size positions meaningfully without requiring the tighter spreads of the Ultra Low tier.
Spreads and commissions on the Standard account are identical to the Micro account. The key difference is in how position sizes translate to dollar values — Standard is better suited to traders who have a reasonable understanding of risk management and want to scale their trading beyond micro lot sizes.
Standard Account — Who Is It Best For?
Intermediate Traders
Traders with 3–12 months of experience who are comfortable with position sizing and want to trade in standard lots without paying for ultra-low spreads.
Swing Traders
Swing and position traders who hold trades for hours or days aren't as sensitive to entry spread costs — making the Standard account's wider spreads less of a disadvantage.
News Traders
Traders who enter around high-impact news events where spread widens momentarily regardless of account type — the cost difference between Standard and Ultra Low becomes marginal.
- ✓$5 minimum deposit — same as Micro but with full standard lot access
- ✓$1.00 per pip on 0.01 standard lots — meaningful position sizing
- ✓No commission
- ✓Best for swing trading strategies where entry spread cost is less critical
- ✗Wider spreads than Ultra Low — cost inefficient for scalpers or day traders
Ultra Low Account — Deep Dive
The XM Ultra Low account is the broker's most popular account type and the one we recommend for most traders beyond the beginner stage. It offers significantly tighter spreads — from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD — compared to the 1.0 pip floor on Micro and Standard accounts, while retaining the same commission-free structure.
The Ultra Low account comes in two variants: Ultra Low Micro (micro lot sizing) and Ultra Low Standard (standard lot sizing). Both share the same tighter spread conditions. The minimum deposit is $50, making it accessible while ensuring traders have enough capital to manage positions sensibly.
Real Cost Comparison: Standard vs Ultra Low
To understand the value of switching to Ultra Low, consider the cost difference per trade on EUR/USD:
| Account | Avg Spread EUR/USD | Cost per 1.0 Lot | Cost per 0.1 Lot | Cost per 0.01 Lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1.6 pips | $16.00 | $1.60 | $0.16 |
| Ultra Low | 0.8 pips | $8.00 | $0.80 | $0.08 |
| Saving per trade | 0.8 pips | $8.00 | $0.80 | $0.08 |
For a trader making 100 standard lot trades per month, this represents $800 in monthly savings — simply by choosing the Ultra Low account over Standard. Even for less active traders, the Ultra Low's lower spread costs compound significantly over time.
Ultra Low Account — Who Is It Best For?
Day Traders
Traders who open and close multiple positions daily benefit most from tight spreads — the entry cost is paid on every single trade, so minimising it has a compounding effect on profitability.
Scalpers
Scalping strategies target small pip movements, which means spread costs represent a larger proportion of the target profit. The Ultra Low account's tighter spreads are essential for scalping viability.
Algorithmic Traders
Expert Advisors (EAs) that execute high-frequency strategies require the lowest possible spread costs to remain profitable. Ultra Low is the natural choice for automated trading systems.
- ✓Tightest spreads of any XM account — from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD
- ✓No commission — unique advantage over ECN brokers who charge per-lot fees
- ✓Available in micro and standard lot variants
- ✓Best long-term value for regular traders
- ✗$50 minimum deposit — higher than Micro/Standard (but still very accessible)
- ✗Slightly higher barrier for traders with very limited starting capital
Shares Account — Deep Dive
The XM Shares account is a fundamentally different product from the other three account types. Rather than trading CFDs on financial instruments, the Shares account allows clients to purchase real shares in publicly listed companies — meaning you become an actual partial owner of the company, entitled to dividends.
This account requires a $10,000 minimum deposit and is available exclusively on MetaTrader 5 (MT5). It is not suitable for short-term traders — it is designed for long-term investors who want direct equity ownership within a regulated, professional trading environment.
- ✓Real share ownership — not a CFD contract
- ✓Dividend entitlement for eligible stocks
- ✓Access to 1,300+ global stocks across major exchanges
- ✓Regulated environment with investor protections
- ✗$10,000 minimum deposit — not accessible for most retail traders
- ✗No leverage available
- ✗MT5 only — no MT4 support
- ✗Commission-based pricing rather than spread-based
XM Islamic Account (Swap-Free)
For Muslim traders who follow Islamic finance principles, XM offers a swap-free account conversion available on Micro and Standard accounts. Islamic accounts eliminate overnight swap charges (interest payments on positions held past market close), replacing them with an administration fee structure that complies with Sharia law.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligible Accounts | Micro and Standard (both MT4 and MT5) |
| How to Convert | Request via XM Members Area — select Islamic Account option |
| Extra Charge | Administration fee may apply on positions held over 3 days |
| Conversion Time | Usually within 1 business day |
| Minimum Deposit | Same as standard account ($5) |
| Available Instruments | All standard instruments — no restrictions |
Which XM Account Should You Choose?
| Your Situation | Recommended Account | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Complete beginner, first live account | Micro | Smallest lot sizes = least financial risk while learning |
| Beginner, want to practice strategy | Micro | Real market conditions with controlled exposure |
| Intermediate, swing or position trader | Standard | Standard lot access from $5, suitable for longer-term holds |
| Active day trader or scalper | Ultra Low Standard | Tightest spreads = lowest cost per trade for high frequency |
| Experienced, wants best overall value | Ultra Low Standard | 50% tighter spreads with no commission |
| EA / Algorithmic trader | Ultra Low | Spread cost is multiplied across hundreds of trades |
| Muslim trader (no swap) | Micro or Standard (Islamic) | Free swap-free conversion available on both |
| Long-term stock investor | Shares | Real ownership, dividends, 1,300+ stocks available |
Choose Your Account & Start Trading
Open your free XM account in 5 minutes. Start with any account type and add more from your Members Area at any time.